Background-carrier.



H. S'. KLEIN.

BACKGROUND CARRIER.

v APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1918.

w z m m g n E 0 w v. Maw M m m M m m 0% Y m '9 N 2 w L g HENRY s. KLEIN, or MILWAUK WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.- v BACKGROUND-CARRIER.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed May 11. 1918. Serial No. 233,919.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY S. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Background-Carriers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to display racks and has primarily for its object to provide a rack of this character adapted to carry a. continuous curtain thereon which can be shifted to display the desired portion.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a rack of this character having the curtain decorated with a plurality of backgrounds particularly adapted for use in photography and to provide a simple, economical and durable device for this purpose which is adapted to carry a maximum length of curtain in a simple compact manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack in which the curtain supports are so arranged as to prevent the outer surface of the curtain having the background pictured thereon from becoming damaged by friction or contact between its different stretches.

A further object is to provide a rack of this nature which is adjustable to accommodate curtains of different lengths.

This invention in one practical form in which it may be embodied is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the invenion indicated by the line 1-1 on Fig. 2. an

Fig. 2 is a sectional view indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the frame of the display rack consists of uprights 1 mounted at their lower ends in standards 2 provided with casters to render the rack portable. Connecting the standards 2 are cross bars 3. Mounted on the upper ends of the bars 1 and secured thereto by set screws are brackets 4, adapted to carry supporting rollers 5. Carried by the supporting rollers 5 is a continuous curtain 12 made of canvas, carpet, matting or any other suitable material for the purpose described. Connecting the brackets 4 are cross members 6.

Intermediate the standards 2 and the brackets 4 the split members 7 are adapted to engage the uprights 1 and are clamped in the desired position by means of suitable screws or b0lts 8.. The split members 7 are provided with bearings for the reception of studs 9 extending from the head of the drive roll 10. In providing for a vertical adjustment of the split members 7 which carry the drive roll 10, it will be seen that different lengths of curtain are readily accommodated. Another feature of this adjustment is to permit the drive roll to be lowered or raised at either end to insurea proper tracking of the curtain should the same become stretched at one side or the other.

. Positioned at the lower extremity of the rack is a compensating roller 11 having studs formed at its ends and adapted to float vertically in slots 2' formed in the standards 2 centrally of the sockets engaging the uprights 1 and cross members 3. In allowing the roller 11 to float in this manner a tension, due to the weight of the roller resting in a fold of the curtain, will be exerted upon it at all times thus insuring tautness of the curtain and compensating for any shrinkage or stretching which might take place.

As has been previously stated the device in the present instance has been particularly designed for use in connection with photography, therefore, the curtain 12 has pictured upon its outer surface a series of backgrounds and by means of the drive roller 10 which is in frictional engagement with the curtain the same can be readily shifted to display the desired background by operating the crank 10 secured to one of the studs of the drive roller.

Should a very heavy materialbe used in the construction of the curtain, or for any other reason the proper grip cannot be obtained between the curtain and drive roller 10 a belt X is used which connects the groove flanges formed at the ends of the drive roller 10 and supporting roller 5. Thus it will be seen that the supporting roller connected to the drive roller bv means of the belt becomes an additional drive roller and insures shifting of the curtain when desired. While I have shown a crank fastened to one side of the drive roll only. for convenience in operating a crank may be secured to the opposite side or in some instances the curtain may be shifted by gripping the same at its edge to pull it up or down, or by operating the belt X.

In some instances it is. desiredtouse separate drapes in connection'with the back ground therefore an extending frame 13 is provided which has rearwardly extending arms adapted to be received in lugs 14: cast at the outer side of the brackets 4. It will, however, way effect-the operation or use of the shiftable curtain.

At the present time it is the common custom among photographers to use different backgrounds for different efiects. These ed on individual frames; thus requiring a greatdeal ofspace and inconvenience when itisdesired to change the same. With the present invention it will be seen that when the object is placed before the rack, the

curtain can be shifted to obtain the desired background without disturbing the object.

I claim a I 1. A display rack comprising connected standards, uprights carried by said standards, connected brackets adjustably mounted upon said uprights,'a pair of rollers jour- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for be understood that this will in no backgrounds in most instances being mount- 'and, means for transmitting movement to the curtain.

2. A display rack comprising connected;

standards having vertical grooves formed therein, a floating roller guided in said grooves, uprights carried by said standards, connected brackets adjustably mounted upon said uprights, a pair of supporting rollers journaled in said brackets, a drive roller adjustably mounted upon said uprights and an endless curtain mounted upon the supporting rollers, the endless curtain having one of its stretches engaged bythe floating roller and the other by the driving roller. In testimonythat I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

HENRY s. KLEIN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

